The
emotional nature of Indiana’s
2007 season made their first
winning record since 1994 (and
subsequently, their first bowl
appearance since 1993) that
much more special. Conjuring
the spiritual guidance of recently
passed coach Terry Hoeppner,
former OC Bill Lynch evidently
took his mentor’s lessons
to the next level.

The
lessons for this year have been
compounded by the installation
of the no-huddle wrinkle for
their spread attack. Statistically
a run-first offense, QB Kellen
Lewis has the elusive ground
style needed to pull defenders
out of their comfort zone(s).
Coaches will be looking for
him to make more short passes
to whoever has the biggest mismatch.
Already strong in his decision-making,
Lewis’s junior year should
bring more firepower and therefore
more wins. Only five foes held
IU under 30 points in ’07,
a number that will shrink even
more.

If
the defensive improvements that
have steadily been found each
incremental season can continue,
the fact that the Hoosier defense
is now close to as good as their
offense will go the farthest
toward increasing the ‘W’
total. The front seven seem
poised for a special showing,
and if the CB play is consistently
strong, look out.

The
schedule is an easy one, considering
there won’t be Ohio State
or Michigan with which to deal.
The first four are here in Bloomington,
but Ball State and Western Kentucky
will reveal whether Indiana
has risen to their given BCS
level, or if the Hoosiers are
still wallowing in the same
mediocrity that had plagued
the program over the past decade.
The second half of their slate
looks more challenging, but
nothing that this Indiana squad
can’t handle.

This
is a set of foes that can be
ridden to a ten-win season.
Don’t be surprised if/when
Indiana breaks through, and
a season like this will be looked
back upon as the stepping-stone
to a new winning era. Hoeppner
built the foundation, and all
that coach Lynch has to do now
is keep that momentum going.
In this era of parity, it should
be the Hoosier’s turn
next to ride their current,
well-procured talent levels
into the polls.

Bill
Lynch got his QB back from off-season
suspension just in time to fine-tune
the offense with its chosen field
general in place. The new variations
on the spread will be a no-huddle
wrinkle that takes time to master.
This is especially vital since junior
Kellen Lewis missed spring ball entirely.
The hurry-up aspect now means shorter
passes based on how foes match up
when they initially come to the line
of scrimmage. Lewis’s happy
feet will come in handy; laterally
developing read plays can feature
his excellent decision making skills
while he buys time. As a soph, Lewis
had 28 TDs and just 10 INTs, so expectations
in his junior year are big. Ben Chappell
is nothing special on paper, but he
proved in Lewis’s absence this
spring that he can run this offense
rather well.

The
two returning backs both have increased
roles in the new offense. That is,
if Thigpen and Payton can hold off
the wanna-be’s. McCray is fast
but needs to prove durability after
an early injury had him sidelined
for most of 2007. The big-fast combination
runner is true frosh Darius Willis,
and many think he just has to show
some of that sprinter’s speed
in pads at this level to become the
next great Golden Eagle runner. Single-back
sets are popular here, so a player
of Willis’s stature helps in
QB protection and on other blocking
assignments.

WR
Ray Fisher already is the underneath
receiver that will thrive in this
new look. Means is a solid hunk of
receiver for those laterally developing
plays that need outside blocking.
Turner and Walker-Roby look like legitimate
deep threats to replace ‘go
to’ guy James Hardy. There will
be no problem finding targets. The
tight ends (really, the entire receiving
corps) will be bolstered by Max Dedmond’s
presence; Dedmond is equally skilled
at blocking and catching, so he can
stay in more often and not telegraph
the play call.

Injuries
took their toll along the line this
off-season. LT Saffold suffered a
hamstring pull that has him still
playing less than 100%, and RT Mike
Stark’s back injury means he
won’t be the prime starter for
which he’s been groomed. Saxon
has shoulder troubles, but his consistency
is already established and his return
to full strength is imminent. The
real key is new soph Alex Perry taking
over at center; his bulked up look
has the ex-OT poised to command this
line. Worries include whether the
injury bug will mean guys shifting
here and there to compensate, thus
keeping the line from gelling. In
a no-huddle spread, the OL has to
know its job, or else the entire rhythm
of the offensive flow will suffer.

K
Austin Starr (PHOTO: IU Athletics)

INDIANA
2008 DEPTH CHARTReturning Starters
in bold

OFFENSE

QB

Kellen
Lewis-Jr (6-1, 185)

Ben
Chappell-So (6-3, 232)

RB

Marcus
Thigpen-Sr (5-9, 199)

Bryan
Payton-Jr (5-9, 205)

WR

Terrance
Turner-So (6-3, 200)

Collin
Taylor-Jr (6-0, 198)

WR

Andrew
Means-Jr (6-0, 215)

Matt
Ernest-Fr (6-2, 187)

WR

Ray
Fisher-Jr (5-9, 172)

Brandon
Walker-Roby-Sr (5-11, 195)

TE

Troy
Wagner-Jr (6-5, 255)

Max
Dedmond-Fr (6-5, 240)

OT

Rodger
Saffold-Jr (6-5, 306)

Andrew
McDonald-Fr (6-5, 280)

OG

Pete
Saxon-Jr (6-6, 310)

Jarrod
Smith-So (6-4, 300)

C

Alex
Perry-So (6-7, 300)

Dan
Rutigliano-Fr (6-3, 300)

OG

Cody
Faulkner-So (6-5, 315)

Dennis
Zeigler-Fr (6-7, 350)

OT

Mike
Stark-So (6-7, 300)

James
Brewer-So (6-8, 340)

K

Austin
Starr-Sr (6-3, 204)

Nick
Ford-So (5-9, 205)

2008
DEFENSE

The
defense has been consistently iffy,
which is to say that the last three
years has seen mixed results. Optimistically,
only two teams went over the 40-point
mark in ’07 (three did it in
’06 and six in ’05); the
average points allowed per game went
down from 32 to 28. Most important
is how the run stopping numbers have
steadily gotten better under co-coordinators
Brian George (DL) and Joe Palcic (CBs),
as well as the pass efficiency defense
also gaining momentum. The play is
being kept in front of the Hoosier
defenders, and it’s working
for better results. The nation’s
sack leader is back, and Greg Middleton
is a sure first round pick with his
tireless engine and open field tackling
ability. One-third of his efforts
will again be TFLs/sacks (only one
TFL wasn’t a sack in ’07)
since bookend Jammie Kilrew is just
as dangerous. Greg Brown is sandwiched
between these two, both position-wise
and in his tackle total from last
year. Mack will have to hold off the
Burrus brothers, and Keith has nice
numbers to assure him reps (Kevin
is more 300+ girth inside). Marando
is the other key reserve, and the
entire DL rotation should keep those
steady improvements coming. If the
run stuffing can match the pressure
on opposing QBs, this can be an elite
line.

Matt
Mayberry is the new MLB stud. His
athleticism is refreshing, so now
we wonder if his work ethic can match
that of ex-MLB Adam McClurg. Geno
Johnson is an all-around type, but
as an ex-safety, he seems best suited
for coverage. The all-around tag fits
junior Will Patterson, too, who has
a nose for the ball. This corps is
deep (Darius Johnson, no relation
to Geno) and should be expandable
to help wherever needed.

The
corners appear secured, but coverage
schemes will be evaluated weekly in
an effort to get the two best Hoosiers
the start. If Chris Phillips can even
partially match his amazing stat line
as a reserve (12 tackles, one sack,
three INTs, four passes broken up,
and three forced fumbles), Indiana
will make even more strides. Having
to replace both starters on the outside
doesn’t have coaches panicked
any more with Phillips emerging. That
will mean Donnell Jones gets lots
of attention until he can earn respect.
This is a double-edged sword since
yards will be gained against him,
but Jones’s upside will kick
in eventually with this St. Pete native’s
raw talent. Depth here is good, as
is the depth found behind incumbents
Polk (free) and Thomas (strong). Thomas
and Polk are why the defensive pass
efficiency rating excelled, and ex-WR
Polk has more to prove after his initial
year in the Indiana secondary means
he hasn’t shown his entire worth
(really, it was Polk’s second
spring on this side of the ball, but
his first real game reps at FS were
in 2007). Ex-kicker Kleinsmith has
nickel written all over him. This
defense can be special with so many
returning starters.

DE
Greg Middleton (PHOTO: IU Athletics)

INDIANA
2008 DEPTH CHARTReturning Starters
in bold

DEFENSE

DE

Jammie
Kirlew-Jr (6-3, 266)

Ryan
Marando-Sr (6-2, 251)

DT

Greg
Brown-Sr (6-2, 300)

Keith
Burrus-Jr (6-3, 285)

NT

Deonte
Mack-So (6-3, 282)

Kevin
Burrus-Jr (6-2, 312)

DE

Greg
Middleton-Jr (6-3, 275)

Fred
Jones-Fr (6-4, 265)

SLB

Geno
Johnson-Sr (6-2, 220)

Darius
Johnson-Fr (6-0, 235)

MLB

Matt
Mayberry-Jr (6-2, 236)

Tyler
Replogle-So (6-2, 235)

BUCK

William
Patterson-Jr (6-1, 235)

Justin
Carrington-Jr (6-0, 225)

CB

Richard
Council-So (6-1, 188)

Chris
Adkins-Fr (6-1, 185)

CB

Chris
Phillips-Sr (6-0, 195)

Donnell
Jones-Fr (5-10, 205)

SS

Austin
Thomas-Jr (6-2, 200)

Brandon
Mosley-Sr (5-8, 204)

FS

Nick
Polk-Jr (6-0, 215)

Joe
Kleinsmith-Sr (5-11, 195)

P

Chris
Hagerup-Fr (6-5, 207)

Joe
Kleinsmith-Sr (5-11, 195)

2008
SPECIAL TEAMS

Austin
Starr will continue to fulfill his namesake
– going 21-for-23 gets the job done.
Foes beware: new punter Hagerup is also
a decent QB to go with his huge leg. Fisher
and Thigpen as return men assure at least
one will eventually come back to the house.